Dettingen/Erms (Germany), March 30, 2017 +++ The ElringKlinger Group completed fiscal 2016 with a powerful sprint to the finish. Sales revenue for the annual period was expanded by 3.3% year on year, taking the figure to EUR 1,557.4 (1,507.3) million. This was fueled by the Group's performance in the fourth quarter, which saw sales revenue grow by 4.4%.

Had foreign exchange rates remained unchanged, growth would have been as much as 5.5% or EUR 83.5 million. Accounting for portfolio effects - e.g., by the acquisition of Hug Engineering B.V. or the asset deal relating to Maier Formenbau GmbH - totaling EUR 12.4 million, organic growth stood at EUR 71.1 million or 4.7%. Global automobile production expanded by around 3% over the same period.

Growth primarily in Asia and Europe (excluding Germany)

ElringKlinger saw revenue improve in almost all sales regions over the course of 2016. While business in the home market of Germany picked up only slightly, sales performance in the rest of Europe proved much more favorable. Here, revenue increased by EUR 18.8 million or 4.0% to EUR 489.1 (470.3) million, as a result of which this region accounted for 31% (31%) of total sales. Growth generated in the Asia-Pacific region was much more pronounced, with revenue expanding by EUR 28.3 million or 10.5% to EUR 299.0 million. As a result, this region now accounts for 19% (18%) of total sales revenue generated by the Group.

Earnings dampened by capacity constraints in Swiss entity

The Group recorded EBIT of EUR 140.4 (140.4) million before purchase price allocation in 2016 as a whole, which was on a par with the previous year. While growth in revenue had a favorable impact on earnings, these positive contributions to profit were offset by charges relating to the Swiss subsidiary affected by capacity constraints. Trailing additional costs of around EUR 11 million in the first half of the year, together with a fundamentally higher level of fixed operating costs and the delayed impact of optimization measures due to the absence of customer approvals for the migration of manufacturing operations exerted downward pressure on the Group's earnings performance. Against this backdrop, figures for the first three quarters of 2016 in each case lagged behind those recorded in the previous year. It took until the fourth quarter for anticipated benefits to materialize, with EBIT before purchase price allocation rising by EUR 12.0 million, or 44%, year on year to EUR 39.5 (27.5) million. This improvement in performance was attributable primarily to measures aimed at remedying capacity constraints. In parallel, solid market conditions and the sale of real estate for a figure at the very low end of the single-digit million euro range proved advantageous.

The following two factors in particular had an impact on the rest of the income statement: First, a year-on-year decline in the Group's net foreign exchange gain and an increase in interest expenses were reflected in its net finance result. Secondly, various tax-related effects translated into higher income taxes in the fourth quarter. As a result, the tax rate stood at 46% in the fourth quarter and at 33% for the annual period as a whole. Despite EBIT being on a par with the prior-year figure, the Group thus saw its net income (after non-controlling interests) fall to EUR 78.6 (91.6) million. Correspondingly, earnings per share stood at EUR 1.24, down on the prior-year figure of EUR 1.45.

High payout ratio in line with long-term dividend policy

Against the background of lower earnings per share, the Management Board and Supervisory Board will submit a joint proposal to the Annual General Meeting on May 16, 2017, for a dividend payment of EUR 0.50 per share. On this basis, the dividend ratio has risen to 40% (38%) and thus lies at the upper range of the long-term policy adopted by the Group, which stipulates that around 30 to 40% of earnings per share should be distributed to shareholders.

Financial position remains strong

ElringKlinger's balance sheet continues to be robust. At the end of the financial year just ended the Group's equity ratio stood at 47.2% (48.5%), which was still well within the upper half of the target range of 40 to 50% of total assets.

Investments scaled back, operating free cash flow improved markedly

Once again, the Group carried out focused investments in its future growth. At EUR 171.3 million, representing 11.0% of revenue, capital expenditure directed at property, plant, and equipment as well as real estate was slightly lower than in the previous year (EUR 176.1 million or 11.7%). Among the major projects in Germany was a new logistics center at the Group headquarters in Dettingen/Erms, construction work on which commenced in July 2016. Additionally, relatively substantial investments were made at the sites in Gelting, Ergenzingen, Langenzenn, and Bietigheim-Bissingen. At an international level, alongside more substantial measures in Switzerland and the United States, key investments included the start of construction work on a facility in Kecskemét, Hungary, as well as new plants in Turkey and China. Additionally, the two US sites in Warren and Roseville were brought together at a new plant in neighboring Southfield in 2016.

Measures targeted at net working capital proved beneficial, with this key financial indicator remaining largely unchanged at EUR 524.6 (523.2) million despite growth in revenue. Overall, this led to a visible improvement in operating free cash flow; it stood at EUR -3.8 million, compared to EUR -65.2 million in the previous year.

Outlook: ElringKlinger looks forward with confidence to 2017

ElringKlinger anticipates that demand within the area of personal mobility will continue to grow irrespective of the type of drive system deployed. Technology surrounding combustion engines will still be of relevance in the short to medium term. In the medium to long term, however, the key impetus is expected to come entirely from new drive technologies. As CEO Dr. Stefan Wolf explains, "Building on a broad product portfolio and diversified customer base, ElringKlinger is very well prepared for this process of transition. Thanks to gaskets and near-engine shielding parts and plastic modules, we have gained a strong foothold when it comes to conventional combustion engine technology. At the same time, innovative structural components as well as parts used in alternative drive systems are among the key contributors to growth."

Overall, the Group expects to be able to exceed global market growth by 2 to 4 percentage points per annum in the short to medium term. For 2017, industry experts have forecast market growth of 1 to 2%. In the medium term, the market is likely to expand by an annual average of 2% at a global level.

The growth in revenue targeted by the Group will also translate into improved earnings in 2017. Furthermore, operational measures - primarily the transfer of additional sections of production from Switzerland to Hungary - will have a positive impact on the Group's earnings situation. Against this background, the Group anticipates that its EBIT margin before purchase price allocation will stand at around 9 to 10%. The figure targeted for the medium term is around 13%.